Rasputin’s Bastards

Part BioShock, part X-Files, part Sopranos-and 100%, uncut Nickle … a glorious, chaotic delight from the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Volk (Peter Watts, author of Blindsight).

Post-Cold War, a group of Russians bred from childhood to be psychic spies are called from around the globe to achieve their true purpose: world domination. But some of them have flourished in the lives they have carved out for themselves-often in nefarious ways-and they will not give up their freedom without a fight, even as a new generation of telepathic children, the beautiful dreamers, are coming into power …

In Rasputin’s Bastards, David Nickle-the acclaimed author of Eutopia, Monstrous Affections, and Volk-offers readers an enormous tale, bewilderingly complex, but with lots of twists and turns that reward close attention. It is grotesque, violent, and exciting, with a supernatural tinge that is his hallmark (Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing).

This novel is supernatural eeriness at its best, with intriguing characters, no clear heroes, and a dark passion at its heart. Horror aficionados and fans of Stephen King’s larger novels should appreciate this macabre look at the aftermath of the Cold War. -Library Journal

Stiffly compelling. Once you’re done, there’s no question: the hours spent enfolded in Nickle’s imagination are well spent. You won’t ever feel the desire to ask for them back. -January Magazine

A journey from the depths of the sea, the heart of Mother Russia, to the darkest corners of the soul. -K. E. Bergdoll, The Crow’s Caw